Hillsboro school board rejects council overture on JB Thomas

HILLSBORO -- The Hillsboro school board has declined a city council request to look at using J.B. Thomas Middle School as a community center rather than clear the site for playing fields.

At a council meeting May 5, Councilor Ed Dennis said he wanted to make one more attempt to explore converting the school, so the council asked citizens to work with the school district on the idea.

The debate over Thomas' fate has intensified as the school's July 1 demolition date nears. In a letter to Mayor Jerry Willey, signed by School Board Chairwoman Carolyn Ortman, the board this week reiterated its position:

The decision to tear down the school for playing fields, she said, "was made after a thorough community process. Completing the Lincoln Street project also supports our Strategic Plan in that it retains valuable school district property for future growth, and reinforces our commitment to being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. ... We would not, therefore, ask staff to work in opposition to a position that our School Board has taken, so we respectfully decline the request for additional meetings regarding this issue."

At an open house to say farewell to J.B. Thomas on Thursday night, alumni from the school's 81 years wandered the halls one last time.